The European Tour will resume play this week with the Trophee Hassan II from the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Morocco. The European Tour was off last week as the entire golf world was focused on The Masters at Augusta, Georgia.
This tournament became an official European Tour event in 201 with a full field ready to compete here once again in 2017. However, there will be some changes for this year’s event. After five straight years at the Golf du Palais, the tournament will change venues for the first time in six years. Scheduled as the first tournament following the Masters, it’s no surprise that there aren’t many big names competing this week. That means we will need to stick with the names we know with familiarity a key to handicapping this week’s field.
Event Details
Event: Trophee Hassan II
Category: European
Date: April 13-16
Location: Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, Rabat, Morocco
Jeung-hun Wang won his first title at this event a year ago when he beat Nacho Elvira in a playoff. Those two weren’t alone at the top of the leaderboard either as Robert Rock and Clemento Berardo both finished just one stroke back of those two. This year’s Trophee Hassan II should be another closely contested event with a new venue providing another shakeup to the overall outlook at this tournament.
Past Five Winners
2016: Jeung-hun Wang -5
2015: Richie Ramsey -10
2014: Alejandro Canizares -19
2013: Marcel Siem -17
2012: Michael Hoey -17
What To Know About The Course
Driving Distance and Driving Accuracy weren’t the most important statistics at the old course last year and they likely won’t be that much more important this year. The key statistics to focus on will be Scrambling and Putting. Wet and windy conditions could factor in to the mix with the forecast calling for some disruptive weather by the time the middle rounds roll around. Meanwhile, don’t overlook Greens In Regulation as another statistic to consider when evaluating this week’s field.
The Field
Wang will be among the sports betting favorites to successful defend his title and win this even outright this week. However, it will be Dean Burmeester and Joost luiten listed ahead of him according to the sportsbook odds. Burmeester and Luiten are listed as co-favorites to win this event at +1600 odds. Meanwhile, Brandon Stone, Jordan Smith and James Morrison are all expected to be in the mix as well. Alejandro Canizares, who won this event in 2015, is listed among the sports betting long shots at +6000 odds to win outright.
A Good Matchup To Bet: Joost Luiten over Jeung-hun Wang
Wang won this tournament a year ago but he hasn’t finished in the top-20 at an event this season. Considering that he won the Trophee Hassan II at a different venue and it’s clear he is a strong pick to fade as a sports betting favorite to win outright. Luiten might be the perfect pick in the head-to-head sports betting matchup since he has been incredibly consistent throughout the season. Luiten should have the edge at a new venue so don’t be afraid to bet against Wang in the head-to-head matchup.
Top-Five Pick: Pablo Larrazabal
Less than one week after Sergio Garcia shocked the world at the Masters, Larrazabal should be motivated to deliver a strong performance. The feloow Spaniard is a four-time winner on the European Tour. He flashed his potential with top-10 finishes at the UBS Hong Kong Open and the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and this could be an excellent opportunity to lock in his first win of the year. At +3300 odds to win outright, Larrazabal should be an excellent value pick to finish in the top-five at the Trophee Hassan II this week.
Odds To Win Trophee Hassan II
Dean Burmester +1415
Joost Luiten +1550
Brandon Stone +1550
Jeunghun Wang +1650
Jordan Smith +2550
James Morrison +2850
Jaco Van Zyl +3250
Stephen Gallacher +3250
Pablo Larrazabel +3250
Richard Sterne +3250
Dylan Frittelli +3250
Alexander Levy +3250
Romain Langasque +3550
Matteo Manassero +3250
Jorge Campillo +3550
Victor Dubuisson +3550
Mike Lorenzo Vera +3550
David Horsey +4050
Alexander Bjork +4050
Mikko Korhonen +4050
Paul Dunne +4050
Thomas Detry +4550
Florian Fritsch +5050
Joakim Lagergren +5050
Nacho Elvira +5500
Chris Hanson +5500
Pep Angles +5500
Richard Bland +5500
Aaron Rai +6550
Nicolas Colsaerts +6550
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